Early 1900s dark blue dipped Jasper stoneware ovoid vase by the Wedgwood factory, Staffordshire, and adapted for use as a shaker via a metal top (see Photos 7 and 8). Wedgwood's Dark blue Jasper is much harder to find today than the light blue Jasperwares that have been produced continuously for well over 150 years. This dark blue vase is in perfect condition whereas the pierced sliver plated metal top is stamped EPNS, exhibits tarnish and displays a few small dents (see all Photos). The metal collar and pierced top with pointed finial are shown in the last Photo (see Photo 9). Whether one chooses to display it as a vase or shaker is a personal choice beyond discussion here. However, the jasper body has a well proportioned baluster shape that is further enhanced by its boldly ribbed neck (see Photo 3). The horizontal grooves on the neck are designed to seat and secure the metal collar in order to attach the pierced shaker top. The old putty that once held the metal collar in place has long since been removed leaving behind the distinctive grooved neck. Consequently, this Jasperware vessel can be displayed either as a bud vase without the metal collar and pierced top, or as a shaker if the metal fittings are used. Either way and as the Photos reveal, this Wedgwood vessel has an elegant profile that is visually enhanced by its widely spread foot, strongly ovoid body, high shoulder and crisply grooved neck (see Photos 1, 3 and 9).

Solid Jasperware was perfected by Josiah Wedgwood in about 1774 and was offered in several colors created by adding metallic oxides to a special clay mixture. Authentic Jasperware is a high fired stoneware that may also exhibit limited translucency, an attribute that originally caused concern to Thomas Bentley, Wedgwood’s business partner at the time. As a result, Bentley warned Wedgwood against firing Jasperware too high in order to prevent vitrification and translucency. In several letter to Wedgwood, Bentley noted that Josiah’s newly perfected Jasperware might create legal problems if Richard Champion considered Jasperware to be an infringement against Champion’s porcelain patent.

The Jasperware vessel listed here is not solid blue jasper through and through but rather made by using a dipped process to apply a thin blue surface coat over a white body. Josiah Wedgwood perfected dipped Jasperware in 1785 or about 11 years after he started production of solid Jasper. Both types of wares can be found in a variety of colors with light blue more commonly produced in the last 100 years, and dark blue like the vase offered here less prevalent. Additional colors include plain white, lilac, sage-green, yellow, black, rose-red and so forth. Other Staffordshire potteries copied Wedgwood’s jasperware starting in about 1785. The quality of much of the jasper-type wares produced by other factories was typically substandard especially those wares produced in the last 150 years. Furthermore, even some of the wares produced by the Wedgwood factory show a distinct decline in workmanship, particularly those produced in the mid to late 20th century.

The workmanship on this vase is superb as the Photos help illustrate. The dark blue color is evenly applied and the added white clay sprigged motifs show a slight translucency where thinnest (e.g., some of the robes on the women standing in Photo 2). The areas where the blue has been cut through to expose the white body are clean and precisely rendered (see lowest most circular band cut on the top of the outer portion of the spread foot as evident in Photo 1). The ribbed neck was lathe cut so that the blue surface wash was removed with precision to produces a visually striking effect (c.f., Photos 1, 3 and 6). And the Wedgwood name is impressed in all capital letters on the underside of the base (see Photos 7 and 8) along with MADE IN ENGLAND (see Photo 7). These two marks were used as early as about 1898 and became standard after 1910 (see Godden 1964: pp 659).

Lastly, the three classical scenes depicted in fine white clay sprigging spaced evenly around the circumference of this vase are of interest to those who collect Jasperware. Each scene is delineated by borders composed of serrated leaf-like branches sprouting from a central column made up of ornate lacework. The scenes seem to depict symbolic themes from classical mythology. One scene may be a version of the ‘Dancing Hours’ composed of three women holding hands as they dance in a circle (Photo 4), another scene appears to show a warrior with a downward gaze standing in front of a small monument entwined with a snake as a winged female feeds the snake from a bowl in one hand while waving something else in her other hand (Photo 5), and a group of three women that include one holding a spear-like staff as all stand next to a seated person (Photo 2). If any viewer knows the common names given to these classical scenes and wishes to share them, then please kindly drop me an email and I’ll update this listing - thanks, Doc.

So if you are looking for a nice dark blue slipped Wedgwood Jasper vase or large shaker if you wish to use the pierced cover in place, then do make sure you seriously consider this Wedgwood example while it is still available. The metal collar and pierced shaker top will be placed in with the vase for shipping unless the buyer requested that these two metal items not be included. And as always, this item also comes with my Docs Antiques 100% satisfaction guarantee or you may return it using my return policy for a refund (see full Return Policy details farther below). You also have the option to ask for a customized lay-away plan for purchasing this item (and others when combining orders) by simply requesting the terms you wish to use and then let Doc take care of setting it up and combining any items together as desired (payment installments may be modified at any time should the unexpected ever arise, just let me know by email and I’ll change the due dates).

SIZE & CONDITION: This vase stands about 4 3/4 inches tall with the metal cover off (or 7 3/8 inches tall when the metal shaker top is in place), and has a maximum diameter of just over 3 inches across at either its shoulder or base. The rim has an exterior diameter of about 1 7/8 inches over which the 2 inch diameter metal collar easily slides. Use of the metal collar and pierced metal shaker top will require adding a putty-like material to securely seat them. And as the Photos reinforce, this jasper vessel is in excellent condition with no major production defects and no chips, hairlines, major stains, deep scratches, repairs or restoration. A better example of a 100 year old dark blue Wedgwood Jasperware vessel with finely detailed white sprigging would be hard to find today without paying considerable more than what is asked here. The condition of the pierced silver plated metal top that is stamped EPNS is fair because it has a few small dents and needs to be polished (see all Photos).

SHIPPING: All US mainland buyers pay $9.90 for well packed USPS Priority Mail and this is an estimated savings of $2 to $5 since insurance and tracking are INCLUDED in this amount. That is, the insured postage you pay for delivery in the US is always less than our actual costs or we refund the difference back to you, and there are never any handling or packing fees added to any of your Docs Antiques purchases, ever. All international buyers will also pay less than the actual shipping costs for all verifiable locations outside the Continental US mainland. Send us your address and we will email you up to four options for sending this item to your country. We only use the USPS for International shipping to reduce broker fees and certain Custom’s charges when an item is over 100 years old and the option allows for enclosing a special waiver. Please note that international import duties, taxes and other special charges are not included in the item price or our shipping costs and these additional charges are the Buyer's responsibility. We do offer a petition waiver for VAT relief on the behalf of the buyer which may help reduce certain import taxes when your country grants such petitions for items over 100 years old and the shipping option you select allows a waiver request to be included. Please check with your country's Customs Office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to purchasing this item -- thanks.

RETURN POLICY: Satisfaction and peace of mind are guaranteed for all Docs Antiques listings here on Ruby Lane. And this means that if the buyer is unhappy with a purchase, then she/he may return it by sending the item back undamaged and post marked within fourteen days of the original receipt of the item at your address for a refund (certain shipping costs are non-refundable, please insure the item upon return and add tracking). Items damaged by shipping in the US are covered by insurance and while this rarely happens because we pack professionally, we will gladly help you file your insurance claim should it ever be necessary. Of course, never send an item back that has been damaged by shipping since that will void the original insurance. Instead, contact us for help if you have any questions and we will gladly assist.

PAYMENT OPTIONS: Checks on US Banks (no temporary checks, all checks must have 9 digit routing code; item ships after check fully clears), USPS money orders, PayPal, or contact us with your verified address for more options. If you wish to use a credit card by way of PayPal, then that option becomes available after you submit a Ruby Lane purchase order. Once submitted, a PayPal icon will appear at the bottom of this listing and then you may proceed from there if you wish to pay via PayPal by way of a credit card. Or see our Terms of Sale for additional information should you wish to ask for a customized layaway plan customized to your own needs and situation (email me a request for a customized layaway). Thanks for looking and we invite you back again when you have more time.

Item ID:RL890.a2195

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